This does worry me, I have to say. I like mixing and matching components, upgrading on a whim. I more or less know my stuff when it comes to the 2000s, but post-2010 components are mostly a mystery to me aside from Ultra-Torque cranksets.
I guess part of my motivation for thinking about this and posting this thread is that I'm afraid of being left behind. I feel like I've let myself get too far behind the learning curve. I don't want to turn into one of those bearded old geezers with the vintage bike and components yelling "get off my lawn!"
